MoonScope vs Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
MoonScope
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Typically, a lunar calendar shows the phases of the moon at noon on that day, as viewed from the center of the Earth. As a result, the moon phase calendar does not usually take into account the observer's location or the time of observation, and it is normal for the moon's appearance in the sky to not match the actual moon phase in the sky. MoonWatch is an app whose primary goal is to recreate the moon as it actually appears in the sky when you look up at it. That means it accurately recreates the sky conditions (sunrise, sunset, tri-light) at that location and time, the phases of the moon, moonrise, moonset, and the angle of the moon as it changes over time in 3D space. This means that the moon on the screen will match the actual moon in the sky, which you can easily find by using the tracking function to adjust the angle of your iPhone or iPad. With a premium subscription, you can also easily find the moon's appearance in places other than your current location. Normally, the lunar calendar shows the phases of the moon at noon on that day, but you can also freely change the time to obtain the lunar phase. Enjoy this simple yet highly functional lunar calendar that flexibly responds to a variety of needs by accurately recreating the solar system in 3D space.
Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles
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Lunar Cycles is a moon phase calendar and lunar alarm that rings the minute the Moon does what you were waiting for. A phase, a supermoon, a blood moon, an eclipse. You set it once, the app does the astronomy, the alarm fires when the sky agrees. A MOON PHASE CALENDAR THAT'S ACTUALLY ACCURATE Every day of the year with its real moon, the illumination percentage, and the next full moon, new moon, supermoon and eclipse. Calculations run on your device with established astronomical models, accurate to within a minute, fully offline, no account. ALARMS FOR ANY MOON MOMENT - Any of the eight canonical phases: new, waxing, full, waning. - An exact illumination percentage. 73% waxing, 12% waning, your call. - Astronomical moments: Blood Moon, Blue Moon, Harvest Moon, supermoon peak, eclipse maximum, perigee, apogee, equinox full moon. - Fire it 1, 2 or N days before, so you have time to step outside. YOUR RHYTHM, IN TUNE WITH THE MOON This is where Lunar Cycles goes deeper than a calendar. Keep a simple lunar journal: note how you feel, your energy, your sleep, your dreams, or anything that matters, across five gentle categories. The app quietly cross-references each entry with the Moon's phase and illumination at that moment. When the same thing keeps surfacing on the same phase, three times or more, it shows you the pattern with a confidence score and offers to set an alarm for that phase. Your own rhythm, mirrored back in the cycle that's been overhead the whole time. LUNAR EVENTS COVERED Supermoon, Micromoon, Blue Moon, Black Moon, Harvest Moon, Partial and Total Lunar Eclipse (Blood Moon), Partial and Total Solar Eclipse, Eclipse Season. Each one with the next date computed for you and an optional alarm. WHAT ELSE IS INSIDE - Shareable cards. The moon of today, or the moon on a date you pick. - An offline library of curated articles on phases, folklore and astronomy. - Audio narration. Every article reads aloud in your device's voice. Offline, free, in any installed language. WHAT IT DOESN'T DO No account. No email. No sign-up. Nothing leaves your device, ever. FREE OR PREMIUM Free with ads. A single one-time purchase removes them, $4.99, for life. No subscription, no trial, no recurring billing, ever. LANGUAGES English, Portuguese, Spanish at launch. German, French, Italian on the roadmap. A gentle note: Lunar Cycles links your entries to the Moon for personal reflection and self-knowledge. It is a journal and an almanac, not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Built by Tortato. cleitontortato@gmail.com if you find a bug or want to suggest something. Terms of Use (EULA): https://lunarcycles.tortato.com/Home/Terms Privacy Policy: https://lunarcycles.tortato.com/Home/Privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles at every 4 days against MoonScope's monthly. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. MoonScope sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
MoonScope ships an update monthly, Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and July 27, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | MoonScope | Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 161 MB | 43 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Hajime Suzuki | Cleiton Tortato |
In-app purchases
MoonScope
- No Ads$4.99
Moon Phases · Lunar Cycles
- Premium Lifetime$4.99





